The People to Toronto Mayor John Tory: “Just the Facts, Man!”

In Canada it is all but impossible to legally acquire a handgun. Is it even remotely possible that John Tory, the mayor of Canada’s largest city, doesn’t know that? One day after the Danforth tragedy that left two innocents dead and 13 others wounded, Tory called for the total disarmament of Toronto— saying nobody needs a gun — in the wake of a gunman’s rampage through its Danforth district.

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It took almost 24 hours for authorities to release the name of Danforth shooter Faisal Hussain, and that according to his family, Faisal Hussain had severe mental health problems. Bare bones thrown out to a city population waiting on the truth. “Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), released Hussain's identity on Monday evening, hours after investigators say the 29-year-old Toronto resident opened fire on a number of Danforth Avenue restaurants in an attack that has left the city in shock.” (CBC, July 23, 2018) How tragic that the release of Hussain’s identity happened around the same time the media revealed that the unidentified 10-year-old girl, shot down on the Danforth, had died of her wounds. Honor student 18-year-old Reese Fallon, who wanted to study at Hamilton’s McMaster University this fall, is dead.

“More shooting victims remain in hospital, with some having undergone multiple life-saving surgeries, according to doctors.” (CBC) “Why does anyone in this city need to have a gun at all?” said John Tory, expostulating that total disarmament would be worth it if it prevented a single mass shooting.

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“I know answering questions like this won’t fully eliminate tragedies like this, but even if we can prevent one of these incidents, then in my view it is a discussion worth having and having very soon,” he said. ‘Discussion’ has not put a dent into the gang violence happening on the streets of Toronto.

The answer to the question many want to hear is: “How did a man whose family says had severe mental health problems ever come to acquire a handgun?” Rebel Media's Ezra Levant posed a bang-on question via Twitter this morning:

I'm curious how the name of the Toronto shooter was withheld for a day, and the moment it was released, a Muslim reporter at the CBC state broadcaster issues an official statement from "the family" -- that he was mentally ill, nothing to do with Islam.

It's probably nothing.

— Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) July 23, 2018

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On the morning after the deadly Danforth attack, a man with a knife was arrested on Parliament Hill: “The incident occurred during the ceremonial changing of the guard, around 10:15 a.m. ET. (Global News, July 23, 2018)

“Department of National Defence spokesperson Daniel Le Bouthillier confirmed that “due to the quick reaction of our soldiers, RCMP and Parliamentary Protective Services, the potential threat was identified and neutralised.” “Ottawa Police have charged 24-year-old Jesse Mooney, of Ottawa, with assault and breach of probation. Initial reports that the suspect had been armed with a knife were described by investigators as inaccurate. A pocket knife was found near the suspect when he was arrested, police later clarified.” “The changing of the guard is a daily event in downtown Ottawa during the summer and involves dozens of soldiers. It begins at the same time every morning (10 a.m. ET). Security on and around Parliament Hill has been increased significantly since a terror-linked shooting in October 2014 that resulted in the death of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo as he stood guard near the National War Memorial.”

In this era of mass shootings, authorities continue to weave in and out of the terms “crazed” (terrorists) and “crazy”, the one adjective guaranteed to keep terrorist acts from being followed up on. Shame on Toronto Mayor John Tory for shutting the lid on what happened on the Danforth before the grieving families could even bury their dead. Unfortunately for citizens of Toronto, Hizhonor is of the type who will never hear the anguish of the people’s voice out there lamenting: “Just the facts, Man. Just the facts.”

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